manynovel Chapter 132 Boundless Jade Disc, the wicked must be tempered by the wicked.
Chapter 132 Boundless Jade Disc, the wicked must be tempered by the wicked.
Chapter 132 Boundless Jade Disc, the wicked must be tempered by the wicked.
The so-called thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands do not actually require finding a specific "cave" or "island"!
Tianshan Tonglao was a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. She studied Taoist culture from a young age and wanted to bring good fortune, so she forced the creation of thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands, but in reality, half of them were nonsense.
Recently, a "cave" was brutally wiped out. The disciples of Lingjiu Palace then ordered Shennong Gang to attack Wuliang Sword Sect, subdue Wuliang Sword Sect, and rename it "Wuliang Cave".
The Shennong Gang was originally a gang, and a gang on the mainland, yet it was listed among the "Seventy-Two Islands".
In Xu Qingya's view, this was just the Tianshan Child Granny staying at home, feeling stifled, and entertaining herself.
Tianshan Tonglao claims to be a celestial being, with disciples from the Nine Heavens and Nine Departments serving her, and control over the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, which she finds comfort in.
Regarding Tianshan Tonglao's actions, Xu Qingya only had one sentence to say: "Evil people need to be punished by other evil people. Tonglao's original intention was bad, but she did good things with bad intentions!"
The people of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands are not kind-hearted people. They are either bandits and tyrants, or evil cultists, and most likely demons and monsters.
Wu Xingyun used the Life and Death Talisman to control them, ordering them to pay tribute to Lingjiu Palace every year. The tribute could not be ordinary items, but mostly precious and rare treasures.
Preparing offerings takes several months, consumes manpower and resources, and can sometimes even lead to financial ruin.
Transporting tribute would take several months, consume manpower and resources, and could also be robbed by bandits.
If they are late in paying their respects and fail to receive the antidote to the Life-and-Death Talisman, most of these demons and monsters will commit suicide to avoid the torment of being neither alive nor dead.
At least eight or nine months out of the year are spent paying tribute to Lingjiu Palace. The remaining time is spent either building up one's influence or practicing martial arts in seclusion.
Even with divine intervention, the gang's income is often insufficient to cover its expenses, with only 10% or 20% remaining.
They had neither the time to do bad things, nor the resources to expand their influence, nor the ability to formulate plans that would last for years or even decades. They could only drift aimlessly through the cycle of life until they were completely drained.
Tianshan Child Granny is definitely not a good person. She subdued these people in order to extort money and collect spiritual herbs.
But objectively speaking, she did a lot of good things.
The Heavenly Child Granny used the Life and Death Talisman to powerfully restrain 108 bandit gangs, tyrants, and evil sects. Over the decades, this accumulated into "immeasurable merit."
Some of the female disciples of Lingjiu Palace were abandoned babies adopted by Tianshan Tonglao, while others were rescued by Tianshan Tonglao when they encountered danger. Most of the time, the so-called Lingjiu Palace can be regarded as an "orphanage".
The female disciples of the Nine Heavens and Nine Departments are extremely loyal to Tianshan Tonglao. The 108 demons and monsters are terrified of Wu Xingyun. Hua Baifeng, relying on her appearance that is 80% similar to Wu Xingyun, made the Lingjiu Palace envoy kneel down as soon as she appeared. When Sikong Xuan, the leader of Shennong Gang, saw the Holy Envoy kneeling on the ground, he immediately knelt down as well.
Xu Qingya transmitted his voice secretly: "Bai Feng, have them tell Wu Xingyun that next August, Wu Yazi's successor will go to Lingjiu Palace to pay respects to Tianshan Tonglao, resolve the grudges between the sects, and ask Tonglao to temporarily quell her thunderous rage."
Hua Baifeng hurriedly said, "You must return to Lingjiu Palace immediately and tell Tonglao that Wuyazi's successor will come to Lingjiu Palace next August to settle the score. You must relay this message word by word without any changes."
The "Holy Envoy" asked, "Young Master, what tone of voice should we use to convey our message? Please advise!"
Hua Baifeng cleared his throat and said in a rather respectful tone, "Next August, Wu Yazi's successor will go to Lingjiu Palace to pay respects to our Grand Master Uncle and settle our scores! Remember the tone? You two, imitate it!"
The two immediately imitated it several times.
Hua Baifeng nodded in satisfaction: "Wait a moment, I'll go write a letter. If you just go back like this, you might be punished."
"Thank you, Young Master!"
"You'll all be mine sooner or later!"
Hua Baifeng took out his inkwell, quickly wrote a letter, and handed it to the two: "Remember, give this letter to Granny Tong, and don't say a single word of nonsense!"
The Lingjiu Palace disciples accepted the order and departed.
The Shennong Gang leader cautiously flattered, "Your subordinate, Sikong Xuan, is willing to serve the young master!"
Hua Baifeng said, "Everyone, disperse! Don't tell anyone about my affairs! Otherwise—hmph!"
"Your subordinate dares not! Your subordinate will retreat immediately! However, there is one matter: more than twenty brothers of the Shennong Gang have been bitten by venomous beasts. Please, Young Master, bestow upon us miraculous medicines to heal our brothers. Your subordinate will be eternally grateful."
Normally, Sikong Xuan would never dare to speak to the disciples of Lingjiu Palace like this, but Hua Baifeng had just acted unusually kindly, and the Shennong Gang had suffered quite heavy losses, so he mustered up his courage and pleaded.
Hua Baifeng nodded: "You're lucky! I have a good friend who's an expert at detoxification."
Hua Baifeng invited Cheng Lingsu over.
Cheng Lingsu took out a silver needle and pricked Sikong Xuan's wound twice, then gently sniffed the needle.
"It smells foul and fishy; it's snake venom. That's incredibly potent venom. Did you encounter Ouyang Feng?"
"I encountered a man and a woman—"
Sikong Xuan answered honestly.
They were ordered to besiege the Wuliang Sword Sect, but accidentally encountered Duan Yu and Zhong Ling who came to watch the commotion. Zhong Ling released a lightning weasel that bit several people. Fortunately, the Shennong Gang was skilled in medicine and poison, and used realgar smoke to drive away the lightning weasel.
Without the Lightning Sable, Zhong Ling and Duan Yu were powerless to resist the Shennong Gang and were easily captured. Sikong Xuan spared Zhong Ling and gave Duan Yu the Heartbreak Powder, instructing him to find Zhong Ling's parents for the antidote. He warned that if they did not return in time, everyone would perish together and none of them would survive.
Cheng Lingsu chuckled, "A lightning ferret? It must be a venomous beast that's been fed poisonous snakes since it was a cub! Let that little girl go! I'll cure the snake venom!"
"Yes, sir!"
Sikong Xuan waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to bring Zhong Ling over. Cheng Lingsu took out her medicine pouch, picked out a few small white flowers, and applied them to Sikong Xuan's wound.
Soon, black poisonous blood flowed from the wound, and Sikong Xuan's complexion improved considerably. He gave a signal, and his subordinates, who had been dawdling nearby, finally brought Zhong Ling over.
Zhong Ling looked at Cheng Lingsu curiously: "Sister is amazing! Even my father didn't know how to cure the poison of the Lightning Sable, but you know how!"
Sikong Xuan roared, "What did you say? There's no antidote for the Lightning Sable, and you're letting that idiot—"
Zhong Ling scoffed, "You rascal, with that huge beard, how come I have to teach you such a simple truth? Brother Duan couldn't find the antidote, but he could bring my parents here and save me!"
"Little girl, what a cruel heart you have!"
Sikong Xuan drew his knife, his face fierce.
Startled, Zhong Ling collapsed into Cheng Lingsu's arms.
Cheng Lingsu has a kind face and gentle temperament. In addition, she has been treating and saving people for a long time, so she has a compassionate nature and looks like a Bodhisattva. Zhong Ling has a childlike nature and subconsciously feels close to Cheng Lingsu when he sees her.
Hua Baifeng coughed softly.
Sikong Xuanshan withdrew.
Now that Zhong Ling had a powerful backer, she became bolder and retorted without any politeness: "Me, vicious? Are you a good person?"
"Sikong Xuan, when you poisoned and killed the disciples of the Wuliang Sword Sect, weren't you ruthless?"
Sikong Xuanqiang argued, "The Wuliang Sword Sect killed two of my disciples; I was avenging them!"
Zhong Ling sneered, "You're right! The Wuliang Sword Sect killed Shennong Gang disciples, and you killed Wuliang Sword Sect disciples. You're killing each other, and you insist on dragging me into it! What grudge do I have against you? You're the one who insists on causing trouble!"
Hua Baifeng shouted, "Shut up! If you dare to utter another word, I'll cut out your tongues! I'm here to handle important matters, not to listen to your nonsense!"
Hua Baifeng is a gentle and sweet maidservant to Xu Qingya, but at other times, she is a demonic witch carefully cultivated by Yu Luosha, who is majestic and imposing. With a casual roar, she can intimidate Sikong Xuan and Zhong Ling.
As night fell, Cheng Lingsu cured the Shennong Gang disciples of their poison. Just as Sikong Xuan was about to leave with his men, Zhong Ling grabbed him, saying, "Sisters, he gave Brother Duan the Intestinal Severing Powder. Make him leave the antidote!"
Hua Baifeng said, "Sikong Xuan, leave the antidote for the Heartbreak Powder. In the future, don't always go to extremes, or no one can save you."
"I will obey the young master's command!"
Sikong Xuan put down the antidote and quickly left.
Zhong Ling was not intimidated. With a quick glance, she realized that Hua Baifeng and Cheng Lingsu were definitely not disciples of Lingjiu Palace. Hua Baifeng, in particular, was clearly bluffing. She had enough imposing presence, but lacked the indifference of Lingjiu Palace.
"Thank you so much, sisters, for saving my life!"
Zhong Ling bowed to the two of them.
Hua Baifeng had a rather favorable impression of Zhong Ling, and asked with a smile, "You want to wait for someone here? Your Lightning Sable is missing. If the Wuliang Sword Sect comes looking for trouble, can you handle it? Little sister, we're going to visit the Wuliang Jade Wall. Would you like to come with me?"
Zhong Ling asked, "Sister, the Boundless Jade Wall is a forbidden area of the Boundless Sword Sect. It is said to hold the secrets of immortals dancing with swords and immortals passing on their teachings. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. Are you going to find the immortals, or are you going to cause them trouble?"
Hua Baifeng rubbed Zhong Ling's little head: "We're going on a trip. If the Wuliang Sword Sect doesn't provoke me, we can all stay at ease. But if they dare to provoke me, my blade hasn't seen blood in a long time."
"It's best not to draw blood with weapons indiscriminately, otherwise you might lose control of your killing intent. Bai Feng, when did you develop a fondness for coaxing children? Do you want to be a mother?"
Xu Qingya led his horse out from the side.
Hua Baifeng rolled her eyes at Xu Qingya: "If the Marquis were bolder, I would have been appointed long ago! The Marquis seems bold, but he is always hesitant and stammering."
Xu Qingya teased, "Hesitant and stammering? I prefer to see Bai Feng hesitant and stammering!"
Cheng Lingsu scolded, "You two, if you want to flirt, go somewhere else. Don't corrupt the children."
Zhong Ling didn't understand what he meant, nor did she want to ask. She just thought these older brothers and sisters were so handsome. When did Dali have so many handsome people? The once majestic Bai Feng sister became gentle and soft-spoken in front of the handsome older brother, even more obedient than a maid.
"Big brother, what's your name?"
"Xu Qingya!"
"I think I've heard that name before—I've heard he's the living Yama of the Central Plains, a master of killing!"
"Do I look like the King of Hell?"
"Of course not! I've heard that Yama, the King of Hell, has a face as black as the bottom of a pot, like a piece of charcoal. Big brother, you're so handsome; you're clearly a hero!"
Zhong Ling rarely leaves Wanjie Valley and has a very obvious childlike nature. She can keenly sense whose feelings are genuine and whose are false and hypocritical. At the same time, she subconsciously likes good-looking, handsome, and beautiful people. Even her pet is a fluffy lightning ferret.
Yin Susu walked out from the side and teased Xu Qingya with a smile: "Little sister, a handsome face doesn't necessarily make a hero. He might be a beast in human clothing. A true hero isn't necessarily handsome."
Qin Nanqin added, "The handsome and dashing swordsman is a story made up by storytellers. In reality, the swordsman might actually be overweight."
Balding head, pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks!
Zhong Ling asked, "Is big brother a hero? I've read in books that beautiful women love heroes. Are all these pretty ladies big brother's confidantes?"
Yin Susu nodded vigorously.
Zhong Ling continued, "Father said that no lecherous pretty boy is a good person! It seems that big brother isn't a hero, but if he's not a hero, why would so many beautiful ladies like him? It seems that my father was wrong; he's too ignorant!"
"Regardless of whether I'm a hero or a coward, let's go check out the Wuliang Jade Wall and enjoy the beautiful scenery!"
Xu Qingya lifted Zhong Ling as if she were a cat, grabbed her by the collar, and held Cheng Lingsu by the waist. With her toes touching the ground, she rode the wind and, after a few leaps, arrived at the back mountain of the Wuliang Sword Sect, where she gently put the two of them down.
Yin Susu and the others followed closely behind. Lao Jiu led the horses into the woods, while Doubao was in charge of keeping watch.
The disciples of the Wuliang Sword Sect have studied for many years but have never seen an immortal dance with a sword. In the minds of most disciples, the legend of the Wuliang Jade Wall is a fabrication. It is nominally a forbidden area in the back mountain, but in reality, it is not particularly well guarded.
There were no traps, no sentries, not even disciples guarding the mountain; only a bare rock face and a hundred-foot waterfall with a thunderous roar.
Xu Qingya gently put Zhong Ling down.
Zhong Ling couldn't help but complain, "So this is the Boundless Jade Wall! What's there to comprehend? What immortal sword dance? It's not even as good as the legend of the Heavenly Crippled Foot that the Boundless Sword Sect made up back then! At least that giant footprint attracted a large number of experts, allowing them to earn rent."
Cheng Lingsu comforted him, saying, "It is said that Bodhidharma meditated facing the wall for nine years, and his shadow penetrated deep into the stone wall. This is the supreme Buddhist teaching of Zen. Perhaps an extraordinary master once secluded himself here for ten years, had a sudden enlightenment, and left behind his legacy."
Yin Susu said disdainfully, "If the founder of the Wuliang Sword Sect had even half a level of Bodhidharma's skill, he wouldn't have wasted decades sitting in vain."
Hua Baifeng said, "As the saying goes, sincerity can move mountains. Natural treasures, divine weapons, and martial arts opportunities can only be obtained by those with the right fate. The founder of the Wuliang Sword Sect was already considered lucky to have obtained a set of sword techniques. If one is too greedy, one will inevitably end up with nothing to show for it."
Qin Nanqin said, "Bai Feng is right. If the Wuliang Sword Sect knew how to be content, even if it couldn't become a top sect in Dali, it could at least become a first-rate sword sect. Now, internal strife is depleting its fighting strength, and the Wuliang Sword Technique hasn't made any progress. It's just a waste of talented disciples!"
Yin Susu asked, "My lord, what are your thoughts on the Boundless Jade Disc? Do you need to go into seclusion?"
Xu Qingya pulled out his grappling hook: "I think it might be more fun to go down and take a look. Who wants to come down with me?"
Cheng Lingsu hugged Xu Qingya: "Brother Xu, we're already here, how can we just sit here on the mountaintop? Let's go down together! I'm relatively light, so you can try to carry me down first, and then carry the other sisters!"
"Hold on tight!"
Xu Qingya held Cheng Lingsu tightly with his left hand, and with his right hand, he launched a grappling hook, grabbed a protruding rock, and slammed it down toward the Boundless Jade Wall. The wind howled, making it quite thrilling.
Whenever he fell to a certain height, Xu Qingya would throw out his grappling hook to slow down, and use the wind beneath his feet to form a protective aura. Although the falling speed was fast, the area around him was as warm as a furnace, and he could not hear the slightest sound of wind.
"Ling Su, aren't you afraid at all?"
"With Brother Xu here, even if all ten Kings of Hell came to capture me, Ling Su wouldn't be afraid!"
"I make mistakes too."
"We'll share the same bed in life and the same grave in death. To die alongside Brother Xu is my good fortune; even the matriarch of the household probably wouldn't have such a blessing!"
"Ling Su is truly magnanimous!"
"Only Brother Xu hesitates; all the sisters in the family are decisive and efficient."
Cheng Lingsu looked at Xu Qingya reproachfully.
"You should focus on getting better first!"
Xu Qingya's words shattered Cheng Lingsu's spirit.
Cheng Lingsu's body was indeed rather weak. As a divine physician, she knew her own body best. She had suffered from malnutrition since childhood, resulting in delayed development. Her plumpness was even less than that of the little girl Zhong Ling. Even if Xu Qingya had a thousand desires for Cheng Lingsu, he had to make sure she recovered first.
As they were talking, the two of them fell to the bottom of the valley.
The two stood up straight and, by the moonlight, admired the surrounding scenery. They couldn't help but shout in delight; the view from the bottom of the valley was truly magnificent, making the risky jump worthwhile.
On the left cliff, a large waterfall, like a jade dragon suspended in the air, cascades down into a crystal-clear lake. The waterfall continuously pours in, yet the lake does not overflow, suggesting that there is another outlet for the water.
Where the waterfall flows in, the lake water churns like a thousand horses galloping, but just a dozen feet away from the waterfall, the lake water becomes as smooth as a mirror, and the moon shines into the lake, and the center of the lake is also a bright full moon, ethereal and like a dragon palace.
Clumps of camellias grow along the lakeside, swaying gracefully in the moonlight, a riot of colors, a truly beautiful sight.
Opposite them was a huge stone wall, smooth as a mirror, hundreds of feet high, too tall for even monkeys to climb.
Xu Qingya chuckled: "Lingsu, go wait for me by the flowerbed, I'll go get Susu."
"Okay, Brother Xu!"
"Let Tangdun accompany you. These damp valleys often harbor poisonous creatures, so be extremely careful!"
Xu Qingya waved to the sky.
Tangdun'er swooped down and landed lightly on Cheng Lingsu's shoulder. It raised its wings and pretended to be on a serious inspection, asking Cheng Lingsu for snake gall.
Xu Qingya swung out his grappling hook, soaring into the air and catching everyone in the same way he had done before.
Yin Susu laughed and said, "Whether there are immortals in Wuliang Jade Wall is not important. Just for this magnificent scenery, this trip has been worthwhile. My lord, paint a picture for me!"
All the women knew that Xu Qingya was skilled at painting beautiful women and could also inscribe poems on his paintings. When they went out, Hua Baifeng would carry brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, while Qin Nanqin would carry paints and canvases. Whenever they encountered a magnificent view, they would ask Xu Qingya to paint it.
Xu Qingya was not good at painting landscapes. His paintings seemed to have a "blurred background," which greatly highlighted the beauty of the women. The scenery was just an embellishment for the women, like the jewelry they wore, which didn't matter whether they were there or not.